Cover the lake with solar panels. Mandate that there not be a lake in all of the land that isn't topped with solar panels from shore to shore.
Okay, that's a little much. In truth, who knows how many lakes and reservoirs would be suitable for floating solar panels, certainly not many. And, in most every case, only a portion of the surface could be covered, due to such things as a desire to not kill algae.
But, put up floatingsolar panels wherever we can, especially behind existing hydro power plants, since the distribution system would not even need to be expanded. Projects on most lakes and reservoirs, though, would not be viable due to too little energy being generated to justify laying new distribution lines.
One wonders how much electricity could be generated if just one percent of the Great Salt Lake was covered with floating solar panels. Probably not much, but perhaps it would still be worth it if only a thousand homes were served.
We are told we are facing an energy crisis. If so, we should be scrambling to get every component of energy in place that makes sense. Floating solar makes sense, and it can make a little bit of a difference.
(Index -- Climate change info)
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